Tire-chain



-SHEE l C. S. BARRELL.

. TIRE CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 12, 1916- Patented Apr.

- 2 SHEET C. S. BARRELL.

TIRE CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT; 12, 1916.

Patented Apr.12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IAQ Q hmqw I I I y [27 Uenror:

UNITED STATES CHARLES S. BARRELL, 0F BOSTON, MA SSAC IEZUSETTS.

TIRE-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 12, 1921,

Application filed September 12, 1916. Serial No. 119,692.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES S. BARRELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in T ire-Chains, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings. forming part thereof.

This invention has reference to improvements in devices for preventing the slipping of wheels, and relates particularly to such devices known as tire chains adapted for use on pneumatic and other elastic or resilient tires.

It is well known that the tire chains heretofore used have not been entirely satisfactory. The types known earlier in the art and used to some extent which were applied and maintained tight upon the tire, injure and destroy the tire by their dragging movement. In order to overcome the objection to the tight chain, chains have been applied loose. There are, however, disadvantages inherent in a loose chain, such as injury to the mud guard and the cross chains, excessive flying of mud, and the noise made by a loose chain.

Moreover. the cross chains heretofore used soon wear flat on the one surface thereof which comes in contact with the ground, and thus not only loSe their efliciency as an anti skidding and traction device, but also they develop sharp edges which cut and thereby greatly injure the tire.

One object of the invention is to provide a tire chain in which the links in their extension from one side of the tire tread have characteristics which differ in adjoining links as'to location of parts of said links relative to the surface of the tread portion of the tire whereby the bearing of said links against said tread surface differs in progression through more than two of the adjoining links whereby rotative action of the links is facilitated.

It is the main object of the present invention to construct the cross chains so that even when applied tight, as in the tight tire chain of the earlier art and are thereby particularly incorporated as a part of the tire, the small movement always present in any type of tight tire chain, which is not positively attached to the tire, will cause practically no injury to the tire because the cross chains present only round and smooth surfaces however much they become worn, and

are so constructed that although maintained chain, as will be more fully explained.

The features of construction and combination of parts will hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1, represents across sectional view of portions of a tire having mounted thereon a chain of the improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of a cross chain and illustrating the helical lines occupied by portions of the links which contact with the tire.

Fig. 3, represents a plan view of a chain before it is twisted sufficiently to produce my new improvement.

Fig. 4, represents an edge view of the same.

Fig. 5, represents diagrammatically the proposed spiral riding or hearing effect. sought to be accomplished in this improved chain.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a tire equipped with a chain embodyin the invention.

Similar numerals 0 reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

In each of the Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown but one cross chain, with the side chains in section. It being understood that there are the usual number of cross chains and that the side chains extend completely around the sides of the tire as usual.

In carrying my present invention into practice it is my object to provide a cross chain of such nature that when sustained in contact with the periphery of a tire cont-act of said improved cross chainwith the roadway will result in the rotation of the chain with the result that such rotation will effect the rolling of the chain against the periphery of the tire, each engagement of a chain with the roadway of course effecting only a slight rolling movementof the chain on the tire. The construction of my improved chain will be more readily understood by reference to the drawings it being premised that the im rovement resides in the chain as a whole, least as distinguished from any particular link although reference will be made to the individual links.

In the me'thod'of construction I prefer to take or produce a chain similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and l of the drawings in which the several links have been twisted to bring their side bars in diagonally crossed relation. These links a, '5 and c are of similar shape and if placed in position on a plane surface S as in Fig. 3 the side bars of all of the links would touch such plane surface substantially in alinement while if said chains be placed on said surface S as'shown in Fig. 4: the links a, F) and a, will have substantially a flat bearing and rotation of the chain' or of any of its links will heresisted by the transverse extension or bearing of the end portions of the links a, b and c. The purpose of the proposed treatment is to carry the point 6 of link a, forward of point 5 of said link and hence to bring point 7 of link 6 forward or upwardand to continue this progressive twisting throughout atleast three of the links. The method of accomplishing this substantially is to twist the chain on its axis; that is, the links, such, for example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, may be givena degree of twist so as to open out the links somewhat. V

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have endeavored to show the construction referred to but in view of the limitations of shading the showing is only approximate. In

' said figure it will be seen that end 9 oflink forward of the point at which itslower part touches the surface '1 of tire X and that side .bar 10 of said link A bends downwardly. and then extends as the end '11 upwardly through. link B to indicate that link B is tipped forward at its upper part farther than link A so that the side arm 12 of 3 curves in riding contact with th surface T while the s end 13 of link B. extends at a difierent angle with espect to said surface T. Link C has its side bar 14 extending downwardly and rearwardlyrelative to bar 12 of link B and the end 15 of link C extends upwardly through link D and forwardlyof the lower end of said bar 14." These relative bendings of the chain-members continue progressively throughout the length of the chain.

The end links of the chain'thus construct ed are supplied with the swivel members 20,

20 which are rotatably mounted in bearings ofrthe securing devices21, 21 by means of which the cross 'chainjs secured tq side chains 22, 22 of which. parts only are shown as any usual side chains-may be used. It be- .ing understood that any necessary or desirable number of the cross chains may bethus applied to a tire.'

From-the above description it will be seen arass? I vchain substantially as above described renders the form of each of the links such that each of said links constitutes practically a roller element having curved bars adapted to grip the roadway and to frictionally engage the periphery of the tire on which the chain is mounted. Th associated links constituting the chain thus comprising a series of such roller elements flexibly connected to form a flexible roller member having gripping and riding ribs which extend progressively and helically continuing from one ele-' mentor link of said member to the next.

lhe twisting of the chain to give it the character described maybe iiected by holding the central links and twisting the ends of the chain on its axis in opposite direc- I tions. in the presentinstance of the inventlon, each cross chain comprises aseries of links, each being so twlsted that successive links occupy progressive angular positions lengthwise of the chain, and each link having opposed reversely curved side members presenting portions or points p for-contact with the tire and lying on helices 23having an axis extending longitudinally of the chain, thereby giving the latter an outer contour for rolling contact with the-tire.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the I spirit'and scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus described my invention "I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A traction device for tires, comprising across chain having links so twisted that.

corresponding, portions of successive links occupy prbgressive angular positions giving the chant an outer contour fpr, rolling con-1 tact with the tire. v

2. A traction device for tires, comprising a cross chain having links so twisted that corresponding portions of'successive links occupy progressive angular positions giving the chain'an outer contour for rolling COiltact with the tire, and swivel devices'connected tothe terminals of the cross chain andadapted' for connection with circular members for location at the sides of the tire.

3. A traction devide for tires, comprising a cross chain having a series .oflinks, a plurality of which are provided'with opposed side members'presenting portions for conktact with the ground and tireand vcollectively lying on helices having-anaxis 'e'x-- tending longitudinally of the'chain, thereby giving the latter an outer contour for.

rality of which are twisted correlatively to form a spiral twist extending lengthwise of the cross chain, that the latter may have rollin contact with the tire.

6. traction device for a tire, comprising circular side chains and cross chains connected thereto, each having a series of links, a plurality of which are twisted correlatively to form a spiral twist extending lengthwise of the cross chain, that the latter may have rolling contact ,with the tire, and swivel devices connected to the terminals of the cross chains adapted to be secured to the circular side chains.

CHARLES S. BARRELL. 

